Nebulizer of liquids



April 18, 1933. A. w. MORSE 1,904,509

NEBULIZER OF LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 10, 1950 9 VM i WW Lt A TTORNEY Patented Apr. 18, 1933 curren STATES I ALBERT VJ. MORSE, OF FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK NEBULIZER OF LIQUIDS Application filed October 10, 1930. Serial No. 487,793.

This invention relates to nebulizers' of liquids, that is, apparatus for causing liquids to assume the form of an extremely fine mist; and the invention particularly relates to nebulizers of the free swirling. type hereinafter disclosed wherein the swirling action is obtained not by moving parts or by stationary baflles in the discharge passage, but by the direction of admission into the passage.v

In nebulizers of this kind free action is obtained by the'tangential direction of inlet orifices into a so-called swirl chamber within the discharge nozzle, substantially as described in Patent #876,108 issued January 7, 1908, to Stringham and Elmendorf.

Liquid nebulizing devices of the kind which depend upon liquid pressure to operate, have a maximum available capacity under a given liquid pressure which is restricted by the total area of the inlet orifices to the swirl chamber. To increasethe capacity under a given pressure, it is necessary to bore out these orifices. To decrease the capac'-' ity, it is necessary to throttle the liquid pressure by a valve in the liquid supply pipe. When this valve is throttled, the liquid pres sure is decreased at the-nozzle or more par ticularly at the inlet orifices to the swirl chamber. As this pressure is decreased, the nebulizing becomes coarser and coarser, due to the fact that the swirling force is decreased. Eventually this force becomes so small that it is not suflicient to overcome fluid tension and no nebuilizing effect whatever is produced. I

In a Patent #1,439,320 issued to me 'on December 19, 1922, I have provided the discharge nozzle of nebulizers with a control of its inlet orifices to the swirl chamber for the purpose of maintaining a constant liquid pressure at the outlet of the nozzle by varying the size of the inlet orifices to the swirl chamber to suit the capacity desired, the swirling force remaining constant.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a more eflicient means for regulating the inlet for the liquid to the swirl chamber than is disclosed in-the aforementioned Patent #1,439,320.

Another object is to provide inlet means to the swirl chamber of a kind which are readily cleaned of obstructions, and which by their shape are less likely to become clogged.

Further objects of the invention will apipear in the following specifications in which a preferred form of nebulizer is described as applied to fuel oil burning apparatus. r The invention is illustrated by means of the accompanying drawing, in which i Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view ofaburner; I

Fig. 2 is a, transverse cross sectional'view taken along the plane of line 2.2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewof the nebulizer itself formingpart of the burner and its regulating means; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view along the plane of line H in Fig. 3. I j v Like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views and the following specifications. 10 is a hollow casing of substantially L shape, one branch 11 of which is tapped at 12 for an airsupply pipe 13, communicating with the interior of the casing. The end p01 tion of the casing adjacent branch 11- is tapped to receive a plug 14, .which isbored out centrally to receive a tubular spindle--15 which is in axial alignment: with a center'or main branch 16 of the casing 10 in communication with theair supply pipe 13. i

17 is an elbow screwed into an extension of the spindle 15 exteriorlyof the casing10, having a bonnet 18 and nut 19 within which by screw threaded contact with the bonnet in the usual manner is reciprocateda long regu latingste n 20 whichprojects into the'for ward end of the spindle 15. Elbow 17 has gclrewed into'its inlete'nda fuel supply pipe The forward end of the spindle 15 projects outside of branch 16 and is interiorly threaded to receivea nebulizer 23.,

Nebulizer' 23 is shaped polygonally at 24 to facilitate screwing the sarne into' the spindle15. 25 is a cylindrical recess at the inner face of the nebulizer, its bottorn'26 being preferably angula'rly disposed forming a conical roof to the recess, having in its apex a circular outlet 27.

28 is a tubular bushing pressed tightly into the recess 25, one end flush with the end of the nebulizer and its other end abutting and having the same angle as the bottom 26 of the recess. 29 is a fine slot through the wall of the bushing 28 tangentially disposed to the inside of the bushing as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The forward end of the regulating stem 20 projects into the inside of the bushing and is in sliding contact therewith, its face 30 being chamfered to correspond with the conical bottom 26 of the recess 25 and forming a swirl chamber 31 therewith.-

Theoutside of the nebulizer 23 is provided with a' small circular chainfer at 32 concentric with the outlet 27 q 33 is a cup-shaped cap threaded interiorly to fit a threaded end of branch 16 of the casing 10. Cap 33 is provided with a circular opening 34 of'a diameter smaller than the outside of the nebulizer 23. 35 is a lock nut, also in threaded engagement with branch 16, for thepurpose of holding cap 33 in any fixed relation to the nebulizer.

The operation of the device is as follows: Oil is admitted into the burner, under pressure, through supply pipe 21 into the hollow spindle 15. Then through slot 29 into tion of the inlet orifice or slot 29, tangential with respect'to the wall of the swirl chamber, the oil is being given -a swirling motion, and is finally expelled in a rotary swirl from outlet 27.

Air is admitted also under pressure, into the interior of casing 10 by means of pipe 13, whence it is deflected by cap 33 towards the spray of oil issuing from'outlet 27, re-

? sulting in a vapor of high combustive qualities.

If it is desired to cut down the capacity of the nebulizer, it is only necessary to screw the regulating stem 20 further towards the bottom of the recess 26, when the stem 20 will gradually cut down the length of the slot 29 to a more or less degree as desired. It will be noted that the full liquid pressure ismaintained right at the slot on account of which the nebulizing action is not in the least impaired. By this means of regulation of the inlet orifice to the swirl chamber fuel oil may be used at much higher pressures than heretofore. In devices provided with circular inlet orifices, the orifices have a tendency to clog up, while where the slot as disclosed is employed, it is only necessary to withdraw the regulating stem 20 a little further. This eliminates the necessity of removing the nozzle and the use of a fine wire for cleaning the orifices, the practice employed heretofore- The width of the slot 29 may be made wider where particularly heavyoils are used. In actual practice it was found that even with relatively high fluid pressure, the flow can be regulated down to almost nothing, always obtaining an excel lent spray until the annular space between bottom of the recess and face of regulating stem, or in other words, the height of the swirl chamber, is less than .01.

The angle at the bottom of the recess 25 may be'varied from a right angle to a very acute one, and whatever angle is used, there is a perfect,.;unobstructed smooth flow of liquid toward the outlet no matter to what minute size the swirl chamber is reduced.

While I have shown the slot 29 milled throughthewall of the bushing 28 exactly tangential toits cylindrical-interior, it is obvious that this is, where commercial production is concerned, practicallyimpossible, and will usually be made approximately .01

or more away from the extreme side of the in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Furthermore, while the nebulizer is shown in combination with an oil burner, it is understood that the invention may be'used in connection with any device utilizing the nebulizing principle. I

What'I'claim as,new,is 1 I 1. A nebulizer of liquids comprising a structure having'a recess at one end with a central outlet through toits'other end, a cylindrical bushing pressed into the saidrecess having a slot through its entire length tangential to the center of therbushing, and a regulating stem slidingly engaging the center of the said bushing. 7

2. A nebulizer of liquids comprising a structurehaving a recess at one end and a said recess having a slot'through its entire length tangential to the center of thebushing and a regulating stem slidingly engaging the center of the saidfbushingu w 1 y In testimony whereof 'l have hereunto set myhand. l

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